ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, US — Lara Moody, executive director of the Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER), has been appointed to the US Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Air Quality Task Force (AAQTF), the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) announced on Nov. 19.

 As a member of the USDA AAQTF, Moody will have a role in advising the agriculture secretary on air quality issues and their connection to agriculture. She will contribute to reviewing federally supported research, fostering collaboration across government levels to align agricultural air quality policies, and ensure that USDA-backed conservation practices are grounded in peer-reviewed science and remain economically viable for producers.

“The animal feed industry has been working hard to bring innovative feed technologies to the market that can reduce enteric methane production or decrease nitrogen and phosphorous loss into the environment,” said Constance Cullman, president and chief executive officer of AFIA and president of IFEEDER. “With Lara Moody’s background in animal production systems, manure management and crop production, she understands the essential role agriculture has in adopting practices that support air quality. Lara Moody will undoubtedly raise the right questions and provide input to the secretary of agriculture as the department moves forward in supporting air quality programs or developing new regulations.”

With degrees in both agricultural and biosystems engineering, and experience in both academic research institutions and industry organizations, Moody is well prepared to address the practical application of science and research, Cullman said.

IFEEDER works across the animal food and broader food and agricultural sector, along with academia and public institutions, to conduct objective research, education and sustainability projects to inform business leaders and decision-makers about the future of the expanding feed and pet food industry.